Hanukkah lamp. Italian: second half of the 16th century. Bronze with traces of gilding.

Hanukkah lamp. The lamp consists of a backplate and an eight nozelled lamp tray. The backplate is cast and pierced with scrolling foliage; the design includes cornucopias and two dolphins supporting a half length human figure holding a coat of arms above its head. On either side of the coat of arm are passant lion supporters while the crest consists of a cardinal's hat flanked by two amorini. The arms are those of Inigo d'Avalos, who was created Cardinal in 1561 and grand Chancellor of the Kingdom of Naples in 1562; he died in 1600.

Dr W.L. Hildburgh Bequest

Jewish Worship
Judaism is the oldest religion in the world to worship the one God.World Jewry has three main groups: Sephardic, Askenazic and Mizrahi (the Jews who never left the Middle East). All are bound together by a common history and their adherence to the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and the Talmud (a compendium of rabbinic law and lore).

Jewish religious traditions and rituals centre on the home, the community and the synagogue. Central to Judaism is the observance of the Sabbath. This is a holy day, set apart from the rest of the working week. It begins one hour before sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday evening when three stars can be seen in the night sky.

The Jewish year revolves around a number of festivals, such as Passover. These originated in ancient times and embody multiple layers of meaning, from agricultural festivals to historical events.

Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It celebrates the victory of Judas Maccabeus over the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC. This winter festival lasts eight days and an extra flame is lit for each night of the festival.

M.419-1956